Imight be fupply'd with Inftances of all Sorts. from the prefent Age, but because 'tis neither pleafing, nor fecure, to defcribe the Depravations of Men, now in being, I shall endeavour to reform fuch, by exemplifying the Virtues of thofe, who have been efteem'd Worthies, and have per petuated their Memories. But inasmuch as there are feveral in the World, over whom Virtue, painted in the most agreeable Colours, has lefs In fluence than the gastly Vilage of Vice, I fhall not judge it improper to draw fome parallel Cafes of

Each.

At the Siege of Bologne, by Harry the Eighth of England, the Marefbal de Biex, Lieutenant-Gene ral of Picardie, under the Duke of Vendofme, ap pointed James de Vervein Seigneur de Coucy, hist Coufin, Commander of that Place. But he was fo fcar'd and terrify'd at the Canon of the English, that tho' his Captains affur'd him, he need not be under any Apprehenfion of Danger, and the Mayor himself reprefented to him the Strength of the Place, that it would hold out feveral Days more;) and that the Relief they expected would oblige the Enemy to raise the Siege, yet he immediately Capitulated on molt difhonourable Terms, and Surrender'd the Town to the Triumphant King; and. had not he bafely deliver'd it up, it was impoffible the English fhould have made themselves Mafters of it. But that Piece of Cowardice was then punifh'd with Imprisonment; and about four Years after, in the Reign of Henry the Second, with the Lofs of his Head, which was cut off by the Com mon Hang-man, having been first treated with all the Ignominy imaginable.

But as an Inftance, that Courage and Generofity appear in every Action of fome Sons, when the Father has not the least Pretence to either. The

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Son

Son of this Daftard did fo many eminent Services for his King, Henry the Third, that that Prince, in Confideration of his noble Exploits, paid fo great a Refpect to the Memory of his Father, and that of the Marefbal de Biez who had been dif charg'd, that he order'd the Heralds to assist at the Celebration of his Funeral Rites.

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We may boldly affert, that Vervein was de fcended from an Eagle, whofe Ancestors appear'd always in the Front, in the most daring Enterprize, and by their Courage engaged the Admira tion of all Men; and that theSucceffion to their Virtues was only interrupted by one unlucky Raven, who at the fame Time begot an Eaglet, who retain'd nothing of his Father's Basenefs; but lin whom all the Greatness of Soul, and Valour of his Fore-fathers, fhin'd in the utmost Splendor; and as to what concerns the Mayor of the City, who was only a mean Burgefs, fo obfcure that History has neither tranfmitted his Name, or Birth to us Who would not vindicate his Original, for his Conduct, Advice, and prudent Remonstrances?

Admiral Bonnivet, having taken Fonterabia from the Spaniards, invefted Seigneur de Lude in the Government of that Place, who behav'd himself with furprizing Bravery, defeating the furious Affaults of his Enemy with invincible Courage: Inftead of this, one Frauget, that fucceeded him, furrender'd the Town difgracefully; having defended it lefs Days, than the other did Months, tho' his Advantages were far fuperior to the former.

How wide a difference is there between theCharacter of this Traitor, and that of One St. Aulnais, which is thus recorded. Having left the Town Locates, whereof he was Governour, with an Intention to furprize the Foe, he was himself ap

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pre

prehended; and tho' the Enemy clapt a naked Poignard to his Breaft, to intimidate him, as they thought, and by that Means oblige him to furrender the Place; he, with undaunted Courage, commanded his Wife to preferve her Loyalty to her King,and to maintain the Dignity of his Houfe; and that fince he Dy'd for fo jult a Cause, the fhould contemn Life, if purchas'd with the Lofs of Liberty. No fooner had he spoke, but they flabb'd him, to the great Concern and Sorrow of his Wife, and the whole Garrison, who were the melancholly Spectators of this bloodyScene. Thefe Two before-mention'd were not ignobly Born, yet it must be acknowledg'd, that Frauget was worfe than a Raven, and the other more Valiant and Couragious than an Eagle.

What Comparison can we draw between Totila, and Cæfar Borgia, the Son of Alexander the Sixth. The former, though a Barbarian, treated fome Roman Ladies, he had in his Cuftody (having taken them at Cuma where they had fled) with fo great a Regard to their Honour and good Fame, that he fent Officers to conduct them to Rome again, with all the Care and Refpe& imaginable. Inftead of this the other, who, the World would prefume, was under far greater Obligations to the Christian Religion, took no fooner Poffeflion of a City, but he carry'd by force the fairest and youngeft Nuns, devoted to Religion, to gratify his difordinate Lufts and Paffions.

But that we may conclude that Ravens may, by the Help of Breeding, be transform'd into Eagles, we'll take a View of the Behaviour of a certain obfcure Perfon that encounter'd Haly Bala,General of the Turkish Army, and with the greatest Re folution and Spirit cut off his Head at the Battle of Lepanto. What Action could ever be more res markable,

markable, or what Monarch has with greater Merit convey'd his Life to Pofterity? Again, how can we fufficiently extol that other Soldier, who undertook to Fire the Turkish Fleet, in the Dif guife of a Merchant, wherein he would have certainly fucceeded, as eafily as he had before by fifteen Ships, had he not been detected by this unexpected Misfortune: His Cargo of Apples was overthrown, and floated among the Ships.

That we feldom have Specimens of Baseness among the Nobility, that the far greater Part appear actuated by great and generous Souls proceeds from this, that their Birth fcreens them; and ufually their Character is rais'd by fome Action or other, that hath only a meer Shadow of Valour and Courage, whilft every wicked Scene of their Lives is fupprefs'd and still'd: But Men of inferior Rank meet with quite different Succefs; let them commit ever fo flight a Crime, the Rigour of the Law is inflicted upon them, which would be evaded by the powerful Solicitations of Friends, or Money. Nay more, for the Great often acquire a Reputation by the Actions of Inferiors, dif robing them of that Honour which was due to their Merit.

CHAPTER XXII. ar

That it is by our Capacity, Merit, and Birth, we ought to be advanc'd to the highest Employ

ments.

Certain Gentleman, bound by his Office and

A Profeflion, to ferve his Prince on Horfe. Back

every Campaign, had a Spanish Jennet for his own Saddle, and a good Stubbed, drudging Jade for his Man, and Luggage. The Sumpter was to be made ready once by Peep-of-Day, and fell into fuch Freaks, that if his Mafter had not come in the very Nick, there would have been no getting the Horfe to take his Burden. The fame Humour of Kicking and Flinging at the Servant, took him again the next Morning. No, No, he'd carry no Portmantle, he faid, his Mafter had abus'd him, and be'd bear it no longer. The Mafter upon this began to expoftulate the Matter with him: Hark ye, fays he, what's all this Noife and Clutter for? Why, fays the other, I have ferv'd you now Ten Tears, for the Preferment only of an As to carry your Burdens, and here's an Upftart of about Three Tears ftanding, Jet apart for the particular Service of your Perfon. Now, why may not we two carry the Mafter and the Luggage by turns? Alas, fays the Mafter, thou wer't never cut out for a Horse of Manage, nor my finical Spaniard for a Sumpter: So that to do, as you would have me, would be the Ruine of you both. Refign your felf to me, as knowing better what's most proper, and suitable to your Strength and Abilities; by this Time the Sumpter's Pallion waspretty well affwaged,and very willing